by | August 1, 2014 · 10:25 pm

YMCA Update: Little News On South Shore Y

The YMCA came out with an update on the future of some of its branches Friday, and while sales of several locations appear to be moving ahead, they are still looking for an operator for the South Shore Y in Cudahy.

From the press release …

A number of hopeful discussions have been had with potential operators of both the South Shore YMCA and Camp Matawa. While the YMCA of Metropolitan Milwaukee has nothing to disclose at this time, it remains fully committed to working with all parties to find long-term partners best suited to maximize the potential of these facilities.

The update is line with what was shared at a meeting between Y leadership, me, the Cudahy mayor and other local municipal and school officials a couple of weeks ago. I left that meeting hopeful that the Y would find the right partner to keep the facility serving the public as it has for decades (and as it continues to do during the bankruptcy).

I wish Y leaders the best in this process. The Y does so much good for so many people in our community.

Check out coverage from the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel and Business Journal.

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by | August 1, 2014 · 10:11 pm

South Shore Flooding And Other Headlines

Check out these South Shore headlines, including amazing images from St. Francis about flooding rains there and an inspiring story about a Facebook challenge for a great cause …

Also, South Shore Supervisor Pat Jursik has published her new e-newsletter.

And NOW has police blotters from July 17 and 24.

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by | August 1, 2014 · 3:40 pm

Here Is The Meet The Mayor Schedule For The Rest Of 2014

It’s been a pleasure hosting these so far, and I look forward to continuing the community conversation through additional Meet the Mayor sessions this year. Here is the upcoming schedule …

  • Saturday, August 23: Moxie Fitness*
  • Thursday, September 25: South Milwaukee Downtown Market
  • Saturday, October 18: Sorce Martial Arts
  • Saturday, November 15: Mears Sports Auctions
  • Saturday, December 13: Emerald City Catering

The market session is from 4 to 6 p.m. The other four are from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Mark your calendars, and I’ll see you there.

And thanks again to Azteca Restaurant, Studio One Art Glass and Max A. Sass & Sons for hosting my first three events.

*Note: This is a date change from previous communications.

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by | July 31, 2014 · 8:20 pm

New Leadership For South Milwaukee Performing Arts Center

Farewell, Chad Piechocki. Welcome, Rachel Sorce.

Rachel is taking over for Chad as director of the South Milwaukee Performing Arts Center, the SMPAC announced this week.

Chad will be missed, as he becomes the managing director of Present Music, an ensemble performance group. He was a visionary, focused on big ideas that have helped the SMPAC grow into the community treasure it is today. I was impressed with him from the start, and his passion, dedication, hard work and creativity were always evident.

Rachel – most recently the SMPAC’s marketing director and box office manager — brings those same qualities into the role, and she will build on the strong foundation to make the facility and its performances that much better.

I’m excited for the future of the SMPAC. I hope you are too.

From Chad’s farewell statement …

It has truly been an honor and pleasure to lead SMPAC over the past four years and with your support help facilitate its continued growth. Thank you to the many patrons, subscribers, donors, sponsors, volunteers, students, families, teachers, administrative staff, technicians, community members and SMPAC Council who supported me and SMPAC along the way. My fondest memories are those moments right before the curtain went up when the audience and artists were hanging in anticipation of what was about to happen on stage. That energy is something that I believe can only happen with a live performance. It has been an inspiration to witness the responses of thousands of patrons over the years and to bring the brilliance of the performing arts to students and community members of various walks of life. The success of the past 10 years is a testament to what can happen when a community of people works together to fulfill a dream of many generations. South Milwaukee will always have a special place in my life. I hope to see you at an upcoming show during the 10th anniversary season! 

From Rachel’s statement …

I’m excited about this opportunity to serve SMPAC in an expanded role as Director and work towards helping SMPAC reach its greatest potential for enriching lives with performing arts. I look forward to our 10th Anniversary season and all of the wonderful experiences that will be brought to life on and off our stage.

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by | July 30, 2014 · 10:31 pm

Around One More Corner For McGivern: Stop By Thursday’s Farmers’ Market

936083_665101006904116_3176988201231805785_n 10385490_664556933625190_7808335229584731613_n 10561612_664555783625305_6319595337757207953_n 10577082_664195156994701_7456079397241422769_n 10440738_664555170292033_8978761211395073099_nFrom all reports, the filming of the “Around the Corner” feature on South Milwaukee is going really well.

From Azteca Restaurant to the South Milwaukee Performing Arts Center to Grant Park, McGivern and his crew have been all over the city this week, and it’s great to have them.

I can’t wait to see the episode when it airs next February. It should tell a great story.

But first things first: There’s still one more day of filming left. Want to check it out? Stop by the South Milwaukee Downtown Market when it opens at 3 p.m. on Thursday and say hi. It’s good timing for McGivern, as the market returns to its new-and-improved 1tth Avenue location … with a giveaway of market bags to attendees.

Learn more here, and stay tuned for more on the “Around the Corner” premiere event at the SMPAC in February.

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by | July 28, 2014 · 10:23 pm

In-Person Absentee Voting Open

In-person absentee voting is now open at City Hall for the August 12 partisan primary election.

You can vote in person at the clerk’s office during normal business hours through 5 p.m. on Friday, August 8.

Check out a sample ballot here. Here is a link to the city’s general election information page.

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by | July 28, 2014 · 11:11 am

Development Update: Burger King Planned Near Walmart

Update: We scheduled a public hearing on the proposed Burger King for the August 25 Plan Commission meeting, when the 16th Avenue project will also get more discussion. The commission recommended approval of the Columbia Avenue project, with conditions. 

Monday’s (tonight’s) Plan Commission agenda includes several new development projects worth noting …

  • Plans have been submitted for a new Burger King restaurant as an outlot to Walmart at 222 N. Chicago Ave. Discussion about the project’s conditional use permit — and the potential to set a public hearing on the project — is on tonight’s agenda.
  • The Plan Commission is also discussing plans for a new “twin duplex” apartment complex on currently vacant land at the corner of 16th and College Avenues. The plans are for a mix of two- and three-bedroom units.
  • Also, South Milwaukee’s EK Construction wants to purchase and improve the property on the northeast corner of 11th and Columbia Avenues. The plan is to create a storage yard for snowplows and other outdoor equipment and expand/improve the existing building on the site, with a screen fence and improved landscaping around the property. If you’ve driven by there recently, you’d see how much of a facelift that corner could use. And it’s good to a see a local business like EK Construction interested in expanding.

I’ll keep you posted on these developments, and please do attend our meetings. Public hearings on the apartment complex and Columbia Avenue project are set for Monday night. The meeting starts at 6:30 p.m.

Here is an agenda, which also includes continued discussion of the downtown plan I promised during the campaign — one I think we still need as badly as ever.

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by | July 27, 2014 · 8:42 pm

Honoring Our World War I Veterans

The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel has a terrific story in Sunday’s edition about the efforts of two local American Legion Posts to keep the memories of World War I veterans alive.

One of them is right here in South Milwaukee: Van Eimeren-Kolonka Post 27.

From the story:

Cudworth Post 23 was housed in a mansion on Milwaukee’s east side for many years. When it burned down, the post built another in the same block of Prospect Ave., but it was sold two decades ago. Now the post’s offices are above a restaurant in Glendale. Members meet each week for breakfast.

While the Van Eimeren post — it still is in the same building across from the Caterpillar factory in South Milwaukee — was and is known as a blue-collar, working-class post, Cudworth’s membership drew from the ranks of lawyers, doctors, businessmen and judges who had served in the military.

Cudworth boasts some famous members — Gen. Douglas MacArthur, Billy Mitchell and Ken Keltner, the Cleveland Indians third baseman credited with making two impressive defensive plays that helped snap Joe DiMaggio’s 56-game hitting streak.

Cudworth post members helped start Badger Boys State, Camp Legion in northern Wisconsin and American Legion baseball leagues in Wisconsin. Like all American Legion posts across the U.S., both the Van Eimeren-Kolonka and Cudworth posts continue to work on behalf of veterans by furnishing honor guards for funerals, organizing educational programs for youths and lobbying for veterans issues.

Membership in both posts is dwindling as World War II, Korea and Vietnam veterans die and younger veterans don’t join, a problem for all veterans organizations.

At its peak in the 1980s, the Cudworth post had more than 5,000 members. Now it’s around 400. Van Eimeren-Kolonka’s membership is 235, half the size during the 1950s.

“Every generation of veterans thinks their war is unique and their problems are unique, which is true, but what you have to go through is pretty much the same,” Ludka said. “Veterans organizations are places where you can meet people who have had the same experiences.”

Thank you to our local veterans for this important work … and for their service.

The post is located at 920 Monroe Ave. and has a website and Facebook page.

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by | July 27, 2014 · 8:04 pm

Beach Warning: Grant Park

I don’t remember seeing these types of warnings issued before from the National Weather Service, but here is the second one in less than two weeks: a “lakeshore hazard message” for beaches along Lake Michigan, with particular concern paid to currents at Grant Park, among others.

Check out the full message here.

The statement is in effect through Monday evening. Stay safe!

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by | July 27, 2014 · 7:58 pm

South Milwaukee Heritage Days: A Shoutout To Our Volunteers

So, Heritage Days 2014 are over. What a week!

The DARE Golf Outing. St. Luke’s Ice Cream Social. Firehouse Spaghetti Dinner. Evening on the Avenue. Heritage Days Parade. Great Duck Race. South Milwaukee Lionsfest.

I had the pleasure of attending all of these, and each was special, true celebrations of our great city.

But let’s keep in mind that none of this would be possible without the hard work and dedication of dozens (hundreds?) of volunteers. I know time is tight and demands are high, but South Milwaukeeans always seem to come through, and not just during Heritage Week.

To all of our volunteers, I say, “thank you.” Your efforts are always appreciated.

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by | July 25, 2014 · 11:21 pm

Festivals, Parades & More

10494689_893149484050081_1311115531586278510_nNight one of South Milwaukee Lionsfest is in the books … but there’s a lot more on the agenda this weekend.

Saturday features the annual Heritage Days Parade starting at 11 a.m. It starts around 8th and Milwaukee, heads west to 16th, then north to Lionsfest. Look for me and the family on the firetruck!

Then it’s the Friends of the Mill Pond and Oak Creek Watercourse Great Duck Race at 2 p.m. near 15th and Milwaukee Avenues … and the last night of Drama at the Depot, starting at 7:30 p.m. at the South Milwaukee train station.

Lionsfest continues Saturday afternoon and on Sunday, with Family Day. Check out the full schedule above. I’ll be bartending Saturday night and serving food on Sunday.

In other words, it’s a full weekend. Hope to see you out and about!

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by | July 25, 2014 · 4:26 pm

Profit Up, Sales Down For Cat

Caterpillar is out with its second-quarter earnings report, and results were mixed — but still concerning around the company’s mining prospects.

Check out coverage from the Wall Street Journal, Forbes and Bloomberg.

From Bloomberg …

Mining companies have cut billions of dollars of capital spending amid surplus commodities production and a drop in prices for coal, iron ore and other metals. Caterpillar, which completed a string of mining-related acquisitions when the market was stronger, said today the industry remains “weak” and order levels are still low.

“We are seeing our customers defer maintenance,” Chief Executive Officer Doug Oberhelman said on a conference call discussing a decline in mining equipment sales. “The bottom is just behind us. Our numbers are minuscule in terms of ticking up, but they are ticking up.”

Caterpillar’s sales of mining machinery through dealers dropped 38 percent in the second quarter, with declines in every region except North America.

The “mining slump is the No. 1 headwind for Caterpillar,” Matt Arnold, a St. Louis-based analyst with Edward Jones, said by phone. “It won’t last forever, but the question is, how well can the company harness improvement in its other segments in the meantime?”

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by | July 24, 2014 · 10:51 pm

A Great Evening On The Avenue

10580097_10204728628874666_3175624908039396866_n 10579993_10204728997683886_2619082084093857961_nWhat a great night to be a South Milwaukeean.

From the Sorce Martial Arts open house to the demonstrations to the freebies to the music, Evening on the Avenue was a big success — and my first opportunity to be in a dunk tank. 🙂

Next  up: South Milwaukee Lionsfest, starting Friday, and the Heritage Days Parade and Friends of Mill Pond Duck Race on Saturday. Drama at the Depot also continues at the train station downtown Friday and Saturday evenings.

One note: I’m told the parade is bigger and better than ever this year, with more than 120 entrants. Look for me and my family on the fire truck!

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by | July 24, 2014 · 10:36 pm

Disaster Funding Headed Here?

Gov. Scott Walker has officially asked the federal government for disaster assistance for communities following this year’s harsh winter.

Check out the story here.

What does that mean for South Milwaukee? Potentially, a lot. We’ve asked for nearly $167,000 in funds due to broken water mains, road repairs and other issues caused by the weather.

That would be a significant help to our budget.

Learn more in my previous post.

We’ll see what, if any, funding comes our way.

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by | July 23, 2014 · 8:41 pm

Heritage Days In Full Swing

20140723_172409Monday was the DARE Golf Outing, Tuesday the St. Luke’s Ice Cream Social. Tonight, the Firehouse Spaghetti Dinner. It’s been a great week so far, and we’re just getting started.

Thursday, it’s Evening on the Avenue, including the South Milwaukee Downtown Market and Drama at the Depot. Friday, Lionsfest starts. Saturday, it’s the Heritage Days Parade and Duck Race.

Bring it on! Learn more here.

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